A/N: Well this chapter's title survived.
Chapter 7: Delayed Celebration
After obtaining their new equipment, they walked around, going to a mall, the docks, and a few parks. They were trying to break in their new gear, though a few people saw this and deemed it to be concerning. The drizzle kept most of the crowds away they were going, it was a very high-class Restaurant one of few in Vale. One that Weiss had made some reservations for, about a month in advance.
"Wow, Weiss you actually managed to book reservations for this place," Pyrrha inquired calmly, her mind spinning as this was one of the highest class places on Remnant. That usually required lots of money and months in advance to even book a reservation.
"Waving around my name has its perks," Weiss smirked as she answered Pyrrha's inquiry. Ruby was quickly checking over her appearance as this was, as Pyrrha implied, top of the line.
"You sure this is the proper attire for this," Ruby inquired nervously, not having any experience with the fancy restaurant dining experience, even after going on a few dates with Weiss. Lowering their damp hoods they entered as Weiss replied.
"They should overlook it," Weiss's voice was confident and stoic, a key sign she knew what she was talking about. Which also told the group some level of bribery, threats were involved, or even just the mention of her name could have achieved this desired effect. Considering all they had to do was walk in, Weiss showed the man at the door her Scroll and they let the four of them right in while an attendant took them to a corner booth. the place looked like a chateau's main hall in the inside dining area.
"I have a feeling this should be fun!" Nora smiled in her calm neutral demeanor, which even after these months still seemed out of place for her. Her being calm put shivers in the spines of her friends as she still had her fits of insane violence. They found the table Weiss had reserved specifically for tonight a corner booth for four.
After getting seated and getting situated in the restaurant, Ruby noticed the staff were on the best behavior though it didn't take long to realize why there were two Schnee's in the restaurant. This became even more evident when Weiss looked at the center of the dining area, her head snapped back eyes wide. The temptation to abandon the restaurant was there, written on the look on her face.
"What's wrong Weiss?" Pyrrha inquired, as the little color in Weiss's face had left and an ashen pallor replaced it. This shocked the team and caused them to enter a state of alert over what bugged Weiss.
"Winter is here," Weiss hissed, Screaming in her head. This one phrase sent the team onto alert, all of them glancing at her sister in the center. Under any other circumstance Weiss would have loved to see her sister, but now, no not one bit.
"We should be fine," Ruby said calmly looking through the menu. Weiss however, was creating contingency A through Z in her head as She knew her sister would come over to see her due to the date. Ruby felt Weiss's heart skipping quite a few beats that's when Ruby said, "Weiss, we will be fine not like our dates haven't had hiccups like this before," trying to alleviate her girlfriend's stress.
"Well, my family has never been involved!" Weiss hissed quietly and vigorously, nervous about how her sister would respond to her team and Ruby.
"We can handle it, Weiss" Pyrrha smiled confidently putting a hand on Weiss's shoulder. "We will take care of her if she comes over here."
"Do I hear someone needs their legs broken?" Nora smiled lightly her voice more quiet and malicious now, and a lot of people would consider that to be a serious threat nowadays, especially Cardin's team. Nora broke all of their legs for the insults they threw at her. So she had done it before and would do it again if allowed. Though the team mainly found Nora's threats amusing and funny as she could time them just perfectly to be humorous.
"Nora, please refrain from that kind of thinking, please, she is my sister," Weiss chuckled, as Nora's threats were amusing and a joke to the team. Though, the continuation Weiss gave was serious, "Nora I appreciate having the option."
"But anyway we are here to celebrate Ruby's and your birthday we shouldn't let your sister stop us," Pyrrha said not realizing that Winter would most likely make a point of stopping over," besides you don't need to tell her about the thing between you and Ruby, or the fact you two are in a relationship."
"That is true," Weiss said hoping she wouldn't notice the four in the black cloaks in a corner booth. Though her luck was damned, as one of the waiters did approach her table and talk to her gesturing to their booth. Weiss just muttered curses under her breath. Noticing the gesture from the corner of her eye Weiss knew she was excusing herself to come over to the corner booth. Her walking over felt like hours as she tried to distract herself with the menu.
"Greetings Weiss," the ice queen said calmly, to the four sitting at the table she cast an imposing image onto the fine wood table.
"Winter," Weiss responded coldly, avoiding her sister's gaze.
"I've been really concerned for you over the past few months you haven't answered any of my letters," Winter said concerned, like Ruby, Weiss refused to have any correspondence with her family after the incident. As Winter looked over the table she saw them all dressed in black, "I'm not sure I like this new outfit you have going."
"As you can see, we are all dressed like this," Weiss said trying to lessen the potential for misunderstanding, which in reality only increased it. As they stood against the individualism that the people of Remnant held so dear.
"Yes, though we as Schnees wear white," Winter said stating a fact but then again most of Atlas wears white. "Even in dire times we have to appear as shining beacons to the populous," Winter spoke repeating the rhetoric her father told them every time they got dressed and went out.
"Not anymore," Weiss grumbled under her breath with a tone of rebellion. This only furthered her sister's scrutiny and she examined how far her sister's rebellion to the Schnee creed was going now. The next object of her focus was her hair.
"Also what is with your hair?!" She said in shock just noticing the dye in her sister's hair. This was a step of rebellion not even Winter considered. The dark blue tips in her hair most certainly would prove to be controversial.
"Nothing of your concern, sister," Weiss responded stonewalling her sister. It became even more evident to Winter by the glares from the team she was not wanted here, but her concern for her sister overrode that fact.
"Like it is not any of my concern! you are my sister" Winter retorted but Weiss gave her a death stare that would freeze anyone in their tracks except her sister. "So this is your team, huh, they look more like a cult to me," Winter said glancing over the black-clad team "R-W-B-Y is it?" this blunder made everyone just stop for a second as Ruby spoke up to Winter with darkness in her voice "Team RWBY is dead, we are now team Prydwen abbreviated P-R-W-N though we prefer the name Black Knights"
"What does that mean, and who are you?" Winter inquired, looking at Ruby strangely who despite her small stature, was actually managing to unnerve Winter with her voice. Winter's eyes went wide, the incident at Beacon months ago, this was the infamous Prydwen Black Knights she was dealing with, a group she herself felt deep sympathy for, due to the way the White Fang had affected them.
"I am Ruby Rose leader of this team," Ruby responded, Starting to get angered. She wanted Winter to leave. Now.
Though, Weiss continued before Ruby had time to get angry at Winter. "The reason I've been so distant is that I lost four good friends, and our original teams were dissolved to form this one." This shocked Winter as Weiss had always been writing about how nice of a person Ruby was though from what she saw and just heard she realized she stepped on a very big land mine as she connected the reports of this team to the people she saw in front of her.
Winter realized how traumatized this team must be stated. "Wow I'm sorry, I did not realize, Weiss, you must forgive me," She said actually losing her stoic attitude, "considering the transgression, I must apologize but I promised father I would give you this message," Winter spoke as she handed her younger sister her scroll which Weiss read.
Weiss, If you are reading this, over this Summer you will return to White Castle to meet your future husband. There will be no debate your marriage to him is for the best of the family, I already used a lot of favors to make this happen. I expect you to call me in the next few days, or you will be withdrawn from Beacon at the end of the Semester.
Your Father, Jaques Schnee.
It was at this point Weiss handed the scroll to her teammates, something Winter did not expect, though Ruby was the last to get it, as Weiss could predict what would happen to the scroll. Though contrary to what she expected Ruby to do, which was crushing the damned thing. No, Ruby handed it back though everyone in the team could sense Ruby's rage, even Winter could tell she was angry. Causing Weiss to say.
"Ruby," Weiss spoke softly as she took up her scroll, Ruby had heard the things her father 'planned' for her. She was now eighteen, thus legally an adult, and what happened next was spontaneous pecking away at her scroll. Ruby looked at her wondering what she was saying. Wanting to trust Ruby with this decision as well considering she was her partner she slid her scroll across the table to Ruby. Winter, decide to step out of line as she questioned the reasoning behind what she was doing.
This was an error that had her hand arrested by her sister who snapped it causing a slight gust from the speed. Winter didn't know how Weiss moved that quickly but Ruby had her Scroll, and asked: "Weiss are you sure about this?"
She replied as she kept Winter at bay, saying "Ruby, you are my partner and friend I want you to be together with me in this, so you add to it and send it," This got Winter really concerned as to what was on that scroll now. Ruby smirked as she looked over the message one last time.
Father, This is the last straw for me, I don't care who this person is or who they are. They mean nothing to me! I am not your puppet, my chains to you are legally broken! I have someone who truly cares for me, We have a lot in common and right now her family seems much more appealing than the one you only seem to care about when it pays dividends and profits.
I don't care what you had planned for me, Whitley can have it all. I am an adult and I am going to register as an independent student at Beacon. I want to be my own person, not the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company anymore.
Mother for someone who was given your name as my middle, I am sorry for what I must do, but I am doing what I think is right, and you always said do what is right. Also, please help father cope with this. This is what I want, I want to be the best person I can be, the best partner I can be.
Winter, I am sorry for what I am doing considering you are right here but there are things beyond your understanding going on here.
I am sorry for this message but the idea of marrying against my will is frankly a repugnant idea. If you won't entertain the idea of me being my own person, I must leave this family
Ozpin, I will want to talk to you later about this.
May the force be with you all.
Weiss A. Schnee. Team PRWN
To Send to Father
CC to Winter, Whitley, Mother, Ozpin.
Ruby hated that Weiss had to do this, but if her Father intended to make good on her threats which he usually did. She needed to be clear about what she wanted in life. To Ruby, the mere fact Weiss trusted her with this was incredible to her, Ruby learned what Weiss meant by 'having a rough time growing up.' Though she herself was nervous and so was Weiss she could feel it, causing her to ask as she made one minor edit, "Pyrrha, Nora? Will you stand with Weiss and I on this?"
With only a hint as to what was going on, they replied as Winter had backed off as Weiss stood in her way, waiting to hear what Ruby did. "We will stand with you?" Pyrrha spoke speaking for Nora, who answered,
"They want to stop you, they will do it without legs!" Nora cheered as the staff and patrons noted the standoff some taking images of the sisterly struggle. Winter came to realize by looking at her sister, that she wasn't thinking of her, she was thinking of her father. Hearing her team, she knew they were all friends, the kind that would stroll through hell for each other.
Ruby hearing her teammates' and friends' responses added one thing to the message.
Weiss Schnee Team PRWN
Ruby Rose Team PRWN's Leader and Weiss's girlfriend
Pyrrha Nikos, Team PRWN, and a Friend of Weiss
Nora Valkyrie Team PRWN, and a Friend of Weiss
After finishing the edit Ruby smiled and said one word with a finality that made Weiss smirk, and that word was "Sent!"
It was a second before the tune of Winter's scroll played, she read the message, and Weiss smiled at her with a look of 'what are you going to do?'
What happened next no one expected, Winter hugged her little sister. She hoped this was going to just be a phase but reading all she read on the news and Ironwood's reports. Any word of her being part of PRWN would have dire consequences, but one thing that puzzled her was how certain her sister was about this. After the caring embrace something that made the crowd lose attention and stop prying. She looked her sister in her icy, silver tarnished eyes, and asked,
"Weiss, what makes you so sure that she will stay with you?" Winter asked, as at this age most relationships die and never return, true love at this age is a rare thing indeed.
Weiss smiled as she pulsed her light red aura. That something to show the tether to Ruby's Aura, which caused Ruby to speak saying, "I couldn't leave her if I wanted to." Winter had read files about this occurrence and its consequences.
"Could you two please come with me, I'm sorry but I need to talk to Weiss and Ruby, it's nothing bad okay just we need to talk now," Winter said really concerned for her sister, considering what had just occurred, this thought was an understatement. "We will be back," Winter said as Ruby and Weiss followed silently they went outside of the restaurant but she noticed Ruby and Weiss's hands-on their blades respectively.
"Okay please I'm not here to break you two up, so if you would calm down that would be great," Winter said with a gentler tone, "And I am fully sorry for my actions."
"Ruby, please stand down, I believe you sister, so what did you want to say?" Weiss inquired calmly as she got the feeling Winter was going to be going into her supportive big sister role.
"That bond, between you two, how did that form?" Winter asked with ever more legitimate concern in her voice. As Ruby relaxed leaning on a wall
"Distortion dust laid the framework, but Ruby was about to die so I did what I had to do. I couldn't bear watching her die," Weiss explained trying not to tear up from the swell and flow of the memories, "We had lost so much at that point"
"Then I came to check on them and I noticed Weiss wasn't doing too good like something had sapped her aura away and after losing my team I couldn't lose her," Ruby explained long-windedly fast, "and little did I know what Weiss did, so yeah we formed a bond."
"Well I must say though your actions were reckless, they were both very selfless, Father is going to hate what I am going to do, but Weiss I'm glad you found a friend like this," Winter said, with a gentle smile, as she truly wanted what Weiss wanted. "You have my full support Sister, I will not let father get to you"
"Thank you sister, I thought you wouldn't understand," Weiss said slightly deadpanning at Winter's ability to understand situations.
"Oh At first I didn't, but hearing all that is involved now, I do," Winter spoke pleasantly to the two of them giving Ruby a friendly smile. "Also I'm so sorry your celebration got interrupted by me, had I known the situation I would have stayed back."
"Well good to know you're with us, Winter," Ruby smiled pleasantly, actually surprised by Winter's support.
"Well I should be off or my friends are going to worry, also Please you two have, please have a pleasant birthday," Winter smiled walking back into the restaurant, not as an enemy to Ruby and Weiss but as an ally
"Well, that went well, better than expected," Ruby Smiled, "Thought I may need to draw this on her" Ruby continued patting the blade on her belt, though much to Ruby's surprise she found herself in an embrace from Weiss. Her tears were not of sadness but joy. She had done it, she was truly free from her father. Deciding to be public about their relationship Ruby and Weiss walked back into the restaurant holding hands, fingers intertwined.
The Dinner was excellent, Ruby thought the food was great, even getting a few cookies that were so good. She almost wanted to check the back to see if her mom was back there, considering how Weiss was bringing people together for this, but Ruby knew how impossible that would be. They all had a good time. After the 'disturbance' and after they had finished eating Winter came back to ask Ruby for her scroll info and informed the team she was reassigned to beacon for the time being. Aside from that, they had fun, but that would be the last time for that in a long time.
Returning back to the man on his stroll through the dark swamps, he pondered yet another verse to the prophecy. "Bearing Their shackles, they walk to the beats of their drums, synchronized, never off a beat as they march on," made the Dark Lord think not only was love involved but so was training and knowledge of the other to the point of where the other could anticipate the other. If they could further be synchronized. Though another verse made itself known in his mind as the mud of Dromund Kaas was heavy today. "When faced with separation, they sacrifice their family to stay together with the support of the others." This line shocked the dark lord as he continued his walk. He himself had few memories of his own family. They were ones that he had treasured.
